Folding cot



(No Model.)

W. H. WooLn-IDGE.

. l FOLDING GOT. No. 295,606. Y Patentedflvfar. 25, 1884.V

iNrTEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM H; WOOLDRIDGE, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

FOLDING Oor.`

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,606, dated March 25, 1884.

Application filed May 26, 1883.

To all whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, VTILLIAM H. WOOL- BRIDGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Folding Cot, 4of which the following is a specification, reference-being had to the acf companying drawings.

This invention relates to folding cots; and it consists in certain improvements in the construction of the saine,wherebyI attain superior advantages in points of simplicity, durability, and general efficiency, as set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a perspective View illustrating the cot in open position. Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the cot folded up. Fig. 3 represents a cross-section through the front legsof the cot. Fig; 4 represents a rear view of the cot; and Fig. 5 represents a detached view of the T- shaped casting or plate, showing a portion of the side rails and legs.

Like letters refer to corresponding parts in all the figures. i

Referring to the drawings, A A designate the side rails, of suitable construction, and arranged parallel to each other, and having the legs B C pivoted thereto at their upper ends by the pivot pin or bolt a. The legs B C are cut away or divided, as shown at b, along the 'lower half of their length, the upper half form` ing a projecting piece or flange, c. As shown, the flange of one leg iits over the corresponding leg, and at the point c of junction of the two ilanges the legs are pivoted together by hinge-plates, c2. Thus the legs are folded fiat against each other,while the projecting iianges will distribute the strain on each of the legs and avoid loosening of the hinge-plate which would occur if the entire strain was upon them.

D designates castings or plates approXimately Tshaped, pivoted by the bolt abetween the legs BG and the side rails. The head d of the casting is somewhat triangular in shape, forming upper and side bearing-surfaces, d' d2. Vhenthecot is in folded position, the casting rests, by means of bearingsurfaces d2, against the side rails and legs. Upon opening the cot the castings drop down in position with the legs, the side rails bearing ,on the surface d and the ,legs resting (No model.)

against the surface di. Thus the pressure of the legs against `the casting will serve to force it upward, while the pressure of the side rails will force it downward against the legs. By this means a compensating strain on the casting will be aiforded, thereby permitting the legs and rails to be securely braced.

E designates strips or cleats attached to the under side of the side rails at the foot of` the cot, said strips projecting a short distance, so that the legs can rest against the same to be braced thereby. As well known, these strips are in common use, and I therefore lay no claim to their use, since they do `not perform the functions of the castings D, and are for this reason not an equivalent of the same.

The castings are far superior both in utility and efficiency, since they not only brace the legs,but serve tobrace the side rails. Itherefore lay special claim to the castings, which combine to perform the functions stated.

At the upper end of the cot I propose to add, for additional security, a rod, F, attached to the legs near the pivotal point c, said rod having a hook, f, adaptedto catch over a staple or eye, G, securedto theinside of the side rails, A. When arranged in a folding position, as shown in Fig. 2, the rodsv run parallel with the legs and side rails, and when unfolded into the position illustrated in Fig. l the rod will catch over the staple G, and thus serve as abrace to prevent backward or forward movement of the legs.

In practice I iind it desirable to locate the castings at the 'lower end of the cot and the brace-rod at the upper end; butthey may be used in conjunction at both ends or arranged separately, as found practicable.

H designates a bracebar pivoted on one of the legs, and having a slot,`h, at the, outer end, which its over a stud, I, projecting from the other leg. This brace prevents the legs from closing together while the cot is in use, and can be applied to both ends -of the cot,4 and it also readily unlatches from the stud when the cot is ready tov be folded.

To the upper half of the legs B G, at the front end of the cot, are attached spring-wire frames J, which are secured to the sides of the legs and form a loop at the upper end, the canvas pillow or head-support K being sewed to the roo loop and arranged to fold between the legs. When closing the cot, the frames J foldin between the side rails and the pillow folds between the legs, while upon opening the cotthe movement of the legs will spread out the pillow, and thus the latter will be self-adjusting at all times. This saves a great deal of time and trouble, as the pillow will not be obliged to be adjusted after the legs are extended in opening the cot. l

L designates a strap secured to one of the siderails, and having two openings or eyelets, l l', at the outer end of said strap. This strap is Wrapped around the side rails when folded Y together, as shown in Fig. 2, and secures the parts from unfolding by means of the opening Z catching over the stud m, on which the strap is pivoted. Said strap also serves to hold the cot open when in use by means of the opening l', tting over a stud, n, on one of the legs. Any number of thesestraps may be employed, as found desirable.

The operation of my invention can be readily understood from the foregoing` description, taken in connection with the annexed drawings. 'Ihe cot is folded up by bringing the two side rails together, then folding the legs between the side rails, and finally securing the parts in the folded position by means of the strap. ln unfolding the cot, the pillow read ily spreads out in position, while the castings drop down with thelegsin their proper places.

It is obvious that numerous modifications can be made in the construction of the above without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

My device is simple, durable, and inexpensive, while it forms a very compact arrange ment when in folded position.

Having thus described my invention, l claiml. In combination withthe side rails and the legs pivoted thereto by the pin or bolt c, a T-shaped casting pivoted by said bolt, said casting having its head somewhat triangular in shape, and provided with the upper and side bearing-surfaces, d di", for the purpose set forth. y

2. In a folding cot, the combination of the side rails with the legs pivoted thereto, as described, wire frames J, secured to the sides of the legs, and the pillow or head-support K, attached to the top of the wire frames, whereby said frames may fold with the legs between the side rails, while the headsupport folds between the legs, as set forth.

In testimony that l claimthe foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM H. WOOLDR-IDGE.

Witnesses:

PAYTON N. CLARKE, ARTHUR O. PoINInN. 

